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vation explains, I believe, some singular facts | competition should be most severe between in nature, such as that of very rare plants allied forms which fill nearly the same place being sometimes extremely abundant in the in the economy of nature, but probably in no few spots where they do exist, and that of one case could we precisely say why one some social plants being social-that is, species has been victorious over another in abounding in individuals—even on the ex- the great battle of life. treme verge of their range. For in such cases we may believe that a plant could exist only where the conditions of its life were so favorable that many could exist together, and thus save the species from utter destruction. I should add that the good effects of intercrossing and the ill effects of close interbreeding no doubt come into play in many of these

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As the species of the same genus usually have, though by no means invariably, much similarity in habits and constitution, and always in structure, the struggle will generally be more severe between them, if they come into competition with each other, than between the species of distinct genera. We see this in the recent extension over parts of the United States of one species of swallow having caused the decrease of another species. The recent increase of the missel-thrush in parts of Scotland has caused the decrease of the song-thrush. How frequently we hear of one species of rat taking the place of another species under the most different climates! In Russia the small Asiatic cockroach has everywhere driven before it its great congener. In Australia the imported hive-bee is rapidly exterminating the small stingless native bee. One species of charlock has been known to supplant another species; and so in other cases. We can dimly see why the

A corollary of the highest importance may be deduced from the foregoing remarks— namely, that the structure of every organic being is related in the most essential yet often hidden manner to that of all the other organic beings with which it comes into competition for food or residence, or from which it has to escape, or on which it preys. This is obvious in the structure of the teeth and talons of the

tiger, and in that of the legs and claws of the parasite which clings to the hair on the tiger's body. But in the beautifully-plumed seed of the dandelion and in the flattened and fringed legs of the water-beetle the relation seems at first confined to the elements of air and water. Yet the advantage of plumed seeds no doubt stands in the closest relation to the land being already thickly clothed with other plants, so that the seeds may be widely distributed and fall on unoccupied ground. In the waterbeetle the structure of its legs, so well adapted for diving, allows it to compete with other aquatic insects, to hunt for its own prey and to escape serving as prey to other animals.

The store of nutriment laid up within the seeds of many plants seems at first sight to have no sort of relation to other plants. But from the strong growth of young plants produced from such seeds, as peas and beans, when sown in the midst of long grass, it may be suspected that the chief use of the nutriment in the seed is to favor the growth of the seedlings whilst struggling with other plants growing vigorously all around.

Look at a plant in the midst of its range why does it not double or quadruple its numbers? We know that it can perfectly well withstand a little more heat or cold, dampness or dryness, for elsewhere it ranges into slightly hotter or colder, damper or drier, districts. In this case we can clearly see that if we wish in imagination to give the plant the power of increasing in numbers we should have to give it some advantage over its competitors or over the animals which prey on it. On the confines of its geographical range a change of constitution with respect to climate would clearly be an advantage to our plant, but we have reason to believe that only a few plants or animals range so far that they are destroyed exclusively by the rigor of the climate. Not until we reach the extreme confines of life in the Arctic regions or on the borders of an utter desert will competition cease. The land may be extremely cold or dry, yet there will be competition between some few species, or between the individuals of the same species, for the warmest or dampest spots.

Hence we can see that when a plant or animal is placed in a new country amongst new competitors the conditions of its life will generally be changed in an essential manner, although the climate may be exactly the same as in its former home. If its average numbers are to increase in its new home, we should have to modify it in a different way to what we should have had to do in its native country; for we should have to give it some advantage over a different set of competitors

or enemies.

It is good thus to try in imagination to give to any one species an advantage over another. Probably in no single instance should we know what to do. This ought to convince us

of our ignorance on the mutual relations of all organic beings-a conviction as necessary as it is difficult to acquire. All that we can do is to keep steadily in mind that each organic being is striving to increase in a geometrical ratio; that each at some period of its life, during some season of the year, during each generation or at intervals, has to struggle for life and to suffer great destruction. When we reflect on this struggle, we may console ourselves with the full belief that the war of nature is not incessant, that no fear is felt, that death is generally prompt, and that the vigorous, the healthy and the happy survive and multiply.

CHARLES DARWIN, M. A., F. R. S.

RALPH STACKPOLE AND THE QUAKER.

A SKETCH OF KENTUCKY LIFE IN ITS EARLY DAYS.

"FRI

RIEND," said Nathan, "what does thee seek of me?"

"A fight," replied Captain Stackpole, uttering a war-whoop-" a fight, strannger, for the love of heaven!"

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Thee seeks it of the wrong person," said Nathan, "and I beg thee will get thee away." What!" said Stackpole; " aren't thee the Pennsylvania war-horse, the screamer of the meeting-house?"

"I am a man of peace," said the submissive Slaughter.

"Yea verily, verily and yea!" cried Ralph, snuffling through the nostrils, but assuming an air of extreme indignation. "Stranger, I've heerd of you. You're the man that holds it agin duty and conscience to kill Injuns, the redskin screamers! that refuses to defend the women, the splendiferous creaturs! and the

little children, the squal-a-baby d'ars! And wharfo'? Because as how you're a man of peace and no fight, you superiferous, longlegged, no-souled crittur! But I'm the gentleman to make a man of you, so down with your gun, and, 'tarnal death to me, I'll whip the cowardly devil out of you."

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Friend," said Nathan, his humility yielding to a feeling of contempt, "thee is theeself a cowardly person, or thee wouldn't seek a quarrel with one thee knows can't fight thee. Thee would not be so ready with thee match." | With that he stooped to gather up his skins-a proceeding that Stackpole, against whom the laugh was turned by this sally of Nathan's, resisted by catching him by the nape of the neck, twirling him round and making as if he really would have beaten him.

Even this the peaceful Nathan bore without anger or murmuring, but his patience fled when Stackpole, turning to the little dog, which by bristling its back and growling expressed a half inclination to take up its master's quarrel, applied his foot to its ribs with a violence that sent it rolling some five or six yards down the hill, where it lay for a time yelping and whining with pain.

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Friend," said Nathan, sternly, "thee is but a dog theeself, to harm the creature. What will thee have with me?"

"A fight! A fight, I tell thee," replied Captain Ralph, "till I teach thy leatherified conscience the new doctrines of Kentucky." "Fight thee I cannot and dare not," said Nathan, and then added, "But if thee must have thee deserts, thee shall have them. Thee prides theeself upon thee courage and strength will thee adventure with me a friendly fall?"

"Hurrah for Bloody Nathan !" cried the young men, vastly delighted at this unwonted spirit, while Captain Ralph himself expressed his pleasure by leaping into the air, crowing and dashing off his hat, which he kicked down the hill with as much good-will as he had previously bestowed upon the little dog.

"Off with your leather nightcap and down with your rifle," he cried, giving his own weapon into the hands of a looker-on, “and scrape some of the grease off your jacket; for, 'tarnal death to me, I shall give you the Virginny lock, fling you headfo'most, and you'll find yourself in a twinkling sticking fast right in the centre of the 'arth."

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Thee may find theeself mistaken,” said Nathan, giving up his gun to one of the young men, but, instead of rejecting his hat, pulling it down tight over his brows. "There is locks taught among the mountains of Bedford that may be as good as them learned on the hills of Virginia. I am ready for thee."

"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" cried Ralph Stackpole, springing toward his man and clapping his hands, one on Nathan's left shoulder, the other on his right hip. Are you ready?" "I am," replied Nathan.

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'Down, then, you go, war you a buffalo;" and with that the captain of horse-thieves put forth his strength, which was very great, in an effort that appeared to Roland quite irresistible, though, as it happened, it scarce moved Nathan from his position.

"Thee is mistaken, friend," he cried, exerting his strength in return, and with an effect that no one had anticipated. By magic, as it seemed, the heels of the captain of horse-thieves were suddenly seen flying in the air, his head aiming at the earth, upon which it as suddenly descended with the vio

lence of a bombshell, and there it would | THE INHABITANTS OF THE BLACK doubtless have burrowed like the aforesaid implement of destruction had the soil been

HILLS IN 1846.
FROM "THE OREGON TRAIL.” *

soft enough for the purpose, or exploded into GOVERNMENT OF THE SIOUX-POWER OF A

a thousand fraginents had not the shell been double the thickness of an ordinary skull.

"Huzza! Bloody Nathan for ever!" shouted the delighted villagers.

"He has killed the man," said Forrester, "but bear witness, all, the fellow provoked his fate."

"Thanks to you, strannger, but not so dead as you reckon," said Ralph, rising to his feet and scratching his poll with a stare of comical confusion. "I say, strannger, here's my shoulders, but whar's my head? Do you reckon I had the worst of it?"

"Huzza for Bloody Nathan Slaughter! He has whipped the ramping tiger of Salt River," cried the young men of the station.

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CHIEF.

HE Dahcotah or Sioux range over a

THE

vast territory, from the river St. Peter to the Rocky Mountains. They are divided into several independent bands, united under no central government and acknowledging no common head. The same language, usages and superstitions form the sole bond between then. They do not unite even in their wars. The bands of the east fight the Objibwas on the Upper Lakes; those of the west make incessant war upon the Snake Indians in the Rocky Mountains. As the whole people is divided into bands, so each band is divided into villages. Each village has a chief, who is honored and obeyed only so far as his per

qualities may command respect and fear. Sometimes he is a mere nominal chief; sometimes his authority is little short of absolute and his fame and influence reach beyond his own village, so that the whole band to which he belongs is ready to acknowledge him as their head. This was a few years since the case with the Ogillallah. Courage, address and enterprise may raise any warrior to the highest honor, especially if he be the son of a former chief or a member of a numerous family, to support him and avenge his quarrels; but when he has reached the dignity of chief and the old men and warriors by a peculiar ceremony have formally installed him, let it not be imagined that he assumes any of the outward signs of rank and honor. He knows too well on how frail a tenure he holds his station. He must conciliate his

Well, I reckon he has," said the mag-sonal nanimous Captain Ralph, picking up his hat. Then walking up to Nathan, who had taken his dog into his arms to examine into the little animal's hurts, he cried with much good-humored energy, "Thar's my fo'-paw in token I've had enough of you and want no mo'. and want no mo'. But I say, Nathan Slaughter," he added as he grasped the victor's hand, "it's nothing you can boast of to be the strongest man in Kentucky and the most sevagarous at a tussel, h'yar among murdering Injuns and scalping runnegades, and keep your fists off their topnots. Thar's my idea; for I go for the doctrine that able-bodied man should sarve every his country and his neighbors and fight their foes, and them that does is men and gentlemen, and them that don't is cowards and rascals that's my idea. And so fawwell."

ROBERT MONTGOMERY BIRD.

* Published by Little, Brown & Co.

uncertain subjects. Many Many a man in the vil- | rancorous hatred, transmitted from father to lage lives better, owns more squaws and son and inflamed by constant aggression and more horses and goes better clad than he. retaliation. Many times a year in every vilLike the Teutonic chiefs of old, he ingratiates lage the Great Spirit is called upon, fasts are himself with his young men by making them made, the war-parade is celebrated and the presents, thereby often impoverishing himself. warriors go out by handfuls at a time against. If he fails to gain their favor, they will set the enemy. This fierce spirit awakens their his authority at naught and may desert him most eager aspirations and calls forth their at any moment; for the usages of his people greatest energies. It is chiefly this that have provided no means of enforcing his au- saves them from lethargy and utter abasement. thority. Very seldom does it happen-at Without its powerful stimulus they would be least, among these Western bands-that a like the unwarlike tribes beyond the mounchief attains to much power unless he is the tains, scattered among the caves and rocks head of a numerous family. Frequently the like beasts and living on roots and reptiles. village is principally made up of his relatives These latter have little of humanity except and descendants, and the wandering com- the form, but the proud and ambitious Dahmunity assumes much of the patriarchal cotah warrior can sometimes boast heroic vircharacter. tues. It is seldom that distinction and influence are attained among them by any course than that of arms. Their superstition, however, sometimes gives great power to those among them who pretend to the character of magicians, and their orators-such as they are-have their share of honor.

The Western Dahcotah have no fixed habitations. Hunting and fighting, they wander incessantly, through summer and winter. Some follow the herds of buffalo over the waste of prairie; others traverse the Black Hills, thronging, on horseback and on foot, through the dark gulfs and sombre gorges, and emerging at last upon the "parks," those beautiful but most perilous hunting-grounds. The buffalo supplies them with the necessaries of life—with habitations, food, clothing, beds and fuel, strings for their bows, glue, thread, cordage, trail-ropes for their horses, coverings for their saddles, vessels to hold water, boats to cross streams and the means of purchasing all that they want from the traders. When the buffalo are extinct, they too must dwindle away.

LOVE OF WAR.

War is the breath of their nostils. Against most of the neighboring tribes they cherish a

A PATRIARCH.

other

One morning we were summoned to the lodge of an old man, the Nestor of his tribe. We found him half sitting, half reclining, on a pile of buffalo-robes; his long hair-jetblack, though he had seen some eighty winters-hung on either side of his thin features. His gaunt but symmetrical frame did not more clearly exhibit the wreck of bygone strength than did his dark, wasted features, still prominent and commanding, bear the stamp of mental energies. Opposite the patriarch was his nephew, the young aspirant Mahto-Tatonka, and besides these there were one or two women in the lodge.

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